Dobbies has opened a new 110,000 sq ft flagship store at The Junction in Antrim, the company’s second venture in Northern Ireland. As well outdoor and indoor plant areas, there is also a gift department, a home decor area and a cookshop, along with seasonal items, pet and toy departments and a food hall.
The store was opened by TV presenter Pamela Ballantine, along with the deputy mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, councillor Rosie Kinnear; Dobbies ceo, David Robinson; Dobbies Antrim general manager Ken Ferguson and operations manager Jenny Campbell, and The Junction landlord, Alastair Coulson.
“We hope visitors to The Junction enjoy this fantastic Dobbies’ experience, and we look forward to building on the strong relationships with our Junction neighbours and the wider Antrim community,” commented Dobbie’s ceo David Robinson.
The £10m project at The Junction is Dobbies’ largest store in Ireland and one of the largest in its UK portfolio.
The store is expected to attract a footfall of around 1m visitors a year.
Dobbies was founded in 1865 as Dobbie & Co and has grown and expanded in recent years to become the UK’s leading garden centre retailer. There are currently 74 Dobbies stores throughout the UK.
Top: Dobbies new garden centre in Antrim.